Drivers battled to steer clear of danger ‘crater’
A HUGE pothole which was driving residents mad in South Derbyshire has been filled-in.
Earlier this week, the pothole was described as a dangerous “crater” by motorists.
The pothole measured over a foot long and three inches deep and was on the main A444 Acresford Road, Overseal.
Traffic using the road had been trying to avoid the hole, which was so bad highways staff placed a cone next to it.
Speaking before the hole was repaired, one resident from Overseal said: “I only noticed it because of the big cone that was lying in the road. It had obviously been hit by a car which means quite a few vehicles have probably gone over it.
“It is getting to the size of a crater and will only get worse with the amount of lorries we have trundling along here.
“It is also really dangerous because it could easily cause of a lot of damage if you don’t know it is there.”
It is not clear when the pothole originally appeared, but county council officials revealed it was due to be repaired – which it now has.
It came after Councillor Amy Wheelton, who represents Overseal on South Derbyshire District Council, dubbed the pothole dangerous, adding that more and more traffic is using the A444 due to the large amount of housing developments and industrial estates.
Speaking before the pothole was repaired, Councillor Wheelton said: “I am aware of it and it is a danger.
“I report hundreds of potholes, but this is the first time we are having a frost and all this rain, and they just pop up again and with the sheer amount of traffic on the A444, it will get worse.
“When they get that big they are a danger to life. From my understanding, it doesn’t take long to become a crater.
“It will only take you sitting in the car with a child and then your wheel comes off. I would encourage people to report potholes. With all these lorries it is making the potholes bigger.
“The A444 is a major road which has had no improvements despite all these planning applications.”
A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: “We are always grateful for reports of potholes and other issues on the roads from the public.
“In this case our roadworkers are out on site to get this fixed.”
It comes as the same stretch of road is to be closed by South Staffs Water on December 3 and 11.
This is to allow for a water connection to the new nearby Acresford housing estate.